Planning your presentation

when you've finished this page you will be able to...

define the steps involved in planning a presentation

No one can stand up and deliver a presentation without some degree of planning; there are people who can make presenting look effortless, but you can bet they are the ones who have done the most planning!

Your audience will certainly notice if you are making it up as you go along, and won't be impressed. If you can't be bothered to plan, why should they listen?

We have outlined the steps involved in planning a presentation; you'll need to think about...

What's your objective for the presentation? Do you hope to educate, inform, explain, persuade, or sell?

Who's the audience? What kind of presentation will they want to see?

What are the requirements for your presentation? For example, how long have you got?

What will be the content of your presentation?

What are the three things you want your audience to know?

What kind of presentation will you give? Will you use PowerPoint, an overhead projector, a whiteboard / blackboard, a poster, or will you have no visual aids?

How much practice will you need before you can deliver your presentation confidently?

Who can you persuade to give you feedback on your presentation?

Activity: planning your presentation - 15 minutes

1. Use the questions listed above to create a list of all the tasks you will need to plan, design and create a presentation

2. Keep a copy of this list to use when you begin to think about your first presentation.

3. You may wish to add to or modify this list after you have completed your first presentation

Recommended Further Reading

The number one thing to bear in mind when you are planning a presentation is the audience. The next page of this topic will help you to 'know your audience'.